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GM crop planting jumps in Colombia in 2011

News

The planting of genetically modified crops surged in Colombia in
2011, the national agricultural biotechnology association, Agro-Bio
Colombia, reports. It cites figures from the Ministry of
Agriculture’s plant and animal health biotechnology
corporation, the ICA, showing that some 20,343 ha of GM maize was
planted, a rise of over half (+52%) on 2010. GM cotton also saw a
large increase, up 31% to 11,677 ha. The association says that the
rise in such planting reflects the benefits that farmers enjoy from
adopting the technology, and applauds the government for its
support through its “maize nation plan”. The planting
of GM crops also became more widespread with new regions adopting
the technology. Colombian growers also plant GM roses and blue
carnations, the area for which was stable at 4 ha. Planting had
fallen from a peak of 43,000 ha for all crops reached in 2008 (
Agrow No 557, p 19).